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Always Forward
Sergeant Emily Sanders lived and breathed her motto of always forward in everything she did. In 2004, she kissed her then four-year old daughter, Tara, goodbye while she embarked on a twelve-month combat deployment to Iraq. Sanders never made it home from her deployment, and was considered missing in action for eight years following the ambush of her military convoy. The Army eventually declared her killed in action. Tara Sanders, never believed her mother was dead and is now all grown up and setting out on her own mission to find out the truth to what happened to Emily Sanders. After all, Tara lives and breathes by the same motto as her mother- Always Forward.
93 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2021
5 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 15, 2021
In Cecilia Garcia’s debut novella, a young woman, Tara Sanders, embarks on a riveting journey to find out the truth about her missing mother, Emily Sanders, in the most extreme postwar parts of Iraq. Garcia is able to keep you captivated throughout the entire book all the while allowing you to find a strong connection to Tara’s will and focused determination. As you read you begin to realize that love and the need to find out the truth are the ultimate force behind Tara’s fight. This is hands down a 5 STAR read that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
September 17, 2021
A great story told by a great story teller with knowledge of the plot. At the end,which isn’t really the end you start thinking about how this is all going to be pulled together. Two families suffering from a war for different reasons. The mechanics of an extraction are pretty basic(if that’s their option?)but the mechanics of reconciling two families not so much. Can’t wait for the next installment.
September 16, 2021
Excellently written
Well paced and keeps you interested, but wanting more... here's to a second book 🍻
Well paced and keeps you interested, but wanting more... here's to a second book 🍻
April 10, 2025
Let me preface by saying my go-to genre is Romance, specifically Dark Romance… and a runner up would be Mystery/Thriller… so to say this book/series is out of my realm would be putting it lightly. Now with that being said, I ATE THIS BOOK UP! From start to finish I was captivated! I started it at work and when I got home, immediately finished it…. and yes, I will be reading the next books back to back because I simply cannot get enough! To say this book has opened my eyes to a new reading genre wouldn’t be saying enough! I felt like I was sitting with someone I knew and they were telling me a real life story… now yes, I do know the author so I know that a lot of information/ideas/emotion does come from the heart and real life experiences, but I’ve never read a fiction book that felt so real! I could picture everything that was taking place so vividly, and that says a lot coming from someone who isn’t well versed in army terms / other cultures. I don’t want to give any spoilers but I will say that one quote in the book literally gave me the chills! I don’t personally have any triggers when it comes to reading, but I will note that this book does touch on hard, sensitive and emotional topics; like being held captive, death, rape, abuse, war trauma, cultural issues, and more. Do I think you need to have a strong stomach to read this? No, but I do believe mental health is important so if you are easily triggered by certain topics then proceed with caution. In my case, I don’t have many triggers that can harm my mental health so I knew going into this read I would be fine, and I’m beyond happy that I did read this because reading it was astounding! This book was written on an extraordinary level! The author was able to capture the real and raw emotions of every single character, even when the characters shared a common ground and had similar emotions, you can see the difference between how each character was affected. I have no words yet so many words to describe this book. Needless to say, it’s in my top reads!
Personal Rating: 10/10
Personal Rating: 10/10
November 27, 2024
This book took me through a whirlwind of emotions. Cecilia did an amazing job of capturing my attention from the beginning and keeping me engaged throughout. The story is about a war torn family with a mother separated from her family as a POW going through sexual abuse and raising children resulting form this abuse. On the other end, we have the daughter of the POW enlisting and going into the area her mother was taken. The tension, emotions, and details were so well done, I highly recommend this book. Written by a female veteran, Cecilia has the expertise and ability to write about such a tragic story is a fantastic way.
October 10, 2023
This story of a female combat soldier missing in action in Iraq for more than fifteen years, captured my attention from the first pages.
The chapters are told from the perspectives of the trio of main characters, Emily, the soldier, her husband, Josh, a retired Special Forces soldier, and Tara, their eldest daughter, who refuses to believe that her mother is dead.
Garcia does a wonderful job with the characters, sharing their efforts and reflections about the situation. This is an intense, well written tale that left me eager to pick up the next book.
Highly recommended.
The chapters are told from the perspectives of the trio of main characters, Emily, the soldier, her husband, Josh, a retired Special Forces soldier, and Tara, their eldest daughter, who refuses to believe that her mother is dead.
Garcia does a wonderful job with the characters, sharing their efforts and reflections about the situation. This is an intense, well written tale that left me eager to pick up the next book.
Highly recommended.
November 10, 2022
This was a pretty big step outside my comfort zone but I really enjoyed this one. Fast-paced (a lot happens in only 90ish pages) without feeling rushed. Remarkable, engaging, and admittedly horrifying premise chock full o' touches from the author's own personal experiences. Excited to run through the remaining books in the series.
September 17, 2021
I can’t wait for part two!
September 18, 2021
A book you can’t put down!! Loved this book and absolutely can’t wait for the 2nd in the series!!
September 28, 2024
Beautifully written book!
November 18, 2025
A compelling story impossible to put down. Garcia has an authoritative voice. Can’t wait to read more.
January 29, 2026
amazing
This on going store def holds your attention. From the first word to the last word! Can’t wait to finish the series
This on going store def holds your attention. From the first word to the last word! Can’t wait to finish the series
January 5, 2022
I was invested in the story upon the first page. I can’t wait to read the next one to see what happens!!
Full review: This was my last read of 2021 and it was great story to end the year!! This story was written by @authorceciliagarcia who I met at the @louisvillebookfestival. Support indie authors always!
“Always Forward”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
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Always Forward follows the story of a female soldier in the military. She was abducted, held hostage, and abused for years. The story focuses on her internal and external conflicts while her daughter desperately tries to find her.
Ceciilia does an incredible job portraying the MC’s trauma and making the experience immersive. The struggle she endures with contemplating loving her new offspring is so emotional. You really feel her pain and suffering while she tries to recover her sense of self.
The short story is beautifully written with obvious insight of the trauma veterans endured. Definitely worth a read!
Also, I LOVE when the title of a book or movie shows up in the plot and she definitely checks those boxes for intertwining it with the story ❤️
Full review: This was my last read of 2021 and it was great story to end the year!! This story was written by @authorceciliagarcia who I met at the @louisvillebookfestival. Support indie authors always!
“Always Forward”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
.
.
.
Always Forward follows the story of a female soldier in the military. She was abducted, held hostage, and abused for years. The story focuses on her internal and external conflicts while her daughter desperately tries to find her.
Ceciilia does an incredible job portraying the MC’s trauma and making the experience immersive. The struggle she endures with contemplating loving her new offspring is so emotional. You really feel her pain and suffering while she tries to recover her sense of self.
The short story is beautifully written with obvious insight of the trauma veterans endured. Definitely worth a read!
Also, I LOVE when the title of a book or movie shows up in the plot and she definitely checks those boxes for intertwining it with the story ❤️
March 16, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this one! While it's potentially not as polished as some, this is the author's first novella, and she knows how to tell a story! This was engaging and immersive, but beware, it ends on a cliffhanger! I've already obtained the next book! Can't wait to read it. A great read!
Also be prepared: this is a military book and some of the events described within could be triggering.
Also be prepared: this is a military book and some of the events described within could be triggering.
May 3, 2023
Compelling
This is a deeply emotional story. It moves along quickly in its 81 pages but it doesn’t feel rushed. As a soldier herself, the author does an excellent job of showing a picture of what war looks like and how it effects a person. She also shows how PTSD effects the victim’s family and friends, physically and emotionally. Though there are aspects of this book that are difficult to read, it’s an excellent book that was well written and deserves a place in the spotlight.
This is a deeply emotional story. It moves along quickly in its 81 pages but it doesn’t feel rushed. As a soldier herself, the author does an excellent job of showing a picture of what war looks like and how it effects a person. She also shows how PTSD effects the victim’s family and friends, physically and emotionally. Though there are aspects of this book that are difficult to read, it’s an excellent book that was well written and deserves a place in the spotlight.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews